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Robert Schalkenbach Foundation (RSF) was organized in 1925 as an operating foundation to promote public awareness of the social philosophy and economic reforms advocated by Henry George (1839-1897), including the “single tax on land values”. To this end, RSF publishes and distributes books and articles, particularly those of Henry George, including Progress and Poverty, the best-selling original classic work, as well as a new abridgement using the language of the 21st century. These and other works can be found in our online library. Books by Henry George and other authors are available for purchase from our online bookstore.

In addition, the Foundation conducts scholarly research and carries out other projects to promote the principles of Henry George as they apply to issues of current interest.

Henry George began with the ethical premise that all people have an equal right to the use of the earth. From that he concluded that exclusive private ownership of land (natural resources) creates unwarranted special privileges. Furthermore, he observed that holding land out of production drives down real wages and the returns to capital equipment. This process is further exacerbated by taxes on production and income that:

increase unemployment

discourage productive investment

encourage unproductive land speculation and rent-seeking

To counteract this self-destructive system, George advocated shifting taxes from labor and capital onto the value of land and natural resources.

In addition to his various writings, Henry George was well known for his two attempts to run for mayor of New York (during the first of which he came in second and a young Theodore Roosevelt came in third). He also traveled around the world promoting his vision of economic justice by his inspiring oratory. Many a young reformer got their start by reading or hearing Henry George. In Russia, George’s ideas were popularized by Leo Tolstoy, and in China by Sun Yat-Sen. Today, as a growing population confronts its need fairly, peacefully, and efficiently to allocate access to the gifts of nature, the ideas of Henry George have gained a new relevance.

Articles about this new relevance today can be found on this site. There is the stirring piece, “Who Was Henry George?”, by his granddaughter, the celebrated choreographer, Agnes DeMille. Also, you can read one of the best introductions of George’s thought: “Henry George and the Reconstruction of Capitalism” by the late Prof. Robert V. Andelson; and one of the best expositions of his relevance as “the Great Reconciler” of opposing economic systems, “Henry George 100 Years Later” by Prof. Mason Gaffney.

The Foundation takes its name from Robert Schalkenbach, an American typesetter and enthusiastic advocate of George’s vision who left in his will the seed money that started the foundation.

RSF is not the only organization promoting and developing what some now call “the Georgist paradigm”. Links to these other organizations are also found on this site, and we encourage you to visit them.

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Work and Wealth

by Lindy Davies
Water
California, among many other places, is now in the grips of a scarily intense drought. Yet, California still uses an awful lot of water. Golf courses and car-washes are obvious wasters, but agriculture is the thing that really sucks California dry.
California as a whole diverts or pumps 43 [...]

by Lindy Davies
It has been generally assumed, for many years, that “the free market isn’t good at providing affordable housing.” If the free market can’t satisfy that basic, universal human need, then we can’t afford to trust the free market, can we?
Oddly, the free market doesn’t seem to have a [...]

by Lindy Davies
We have all been inspired, from time to time, by the moving statements of Native Americans, and other aboriginal speakers, about their deep and abiding relationship with the land. Here's one:
What is this you call property? It cannot be the earth, for the land is our mother, nourishing [...]

by Lindy Davies
The most recent chapter of Israel/Palestine violence got me thinking about the question of sovereignty. It's all around the discussion, of course: about Israel having a sovereign right to defend itself against attack, and about the various levels of sovereignty a Palestinian state might enjoy.
What is it about, [...]

Framing of mining policy SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Operators Association along with others have urged the State Government to ensure that there is no interference with the rights of ownership of coal land in the State while framing the scientific mining plan and policy. In a letter submitted to the Government, MCTOOA […]

Gujarat government's scheme for tribal development like the Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojna may have become model for a central scheme, but when it comes to giving the tribals forest land rights, Gujarat lags far behind.

Local Action Links, a non-profit organisation that aims to protect farmers' land rights, has urged the government to ensure fairness in landholding in Thai society, suggesting that a land tax is the most appropriate fiscal measure to achieve this.

HGS

Educational Programs

Winter Term BeginsJanuary 14, 2013

Our society has made tremendous scientific and social progress. So why do unemployment, environmental destruction, and poverty persist? Are they evidence of poor choices and misplaced priorities? At the Henry George School you will discover the true cause of and cure for problems such as low incomes, poverty and unemployment.